Halton

Halton's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 130,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Halton increased by 6.4%, from about 118,000 to 126,000.

The addition of about 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Halton was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Halton.

The percentage of households in Halton that rented privately increased from 4.4% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (25%) households lived in social housing, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of Halton households that owner their home decreased from 65% to 63%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Halton increased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Halton, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Halton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Halton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Halton decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Halton, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Halton at a faster rate than across England.

In Halton, the proportion of households without children increased from 54% in 2001 to 56% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61% to 61%.

Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59% to 61%.

The proportion of households with children in Halton fell from 34% to 31%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 12%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Halton, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.0% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (30%) households had only a single person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in Halton, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 39% to 33%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Halton increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Halton, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Halton residents that were self-employed increased from 4.6% to 5.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of Halton residents that were unemployed increased from 4.5% to 5.6%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.1% in 2001 to 8.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Halton increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Halton, the North West and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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